WP Thompson signs at Mann Island

Merseytravel has let the 10,600 sq ft eighth floor at One Mann Island in Liverpool to intellectual property law firm WP Thompson.

WP Thompson signed a 10-year lease at the 140,000 sq ft building, part of which is currently being used as the centre of the International Festival for Business. The building is located between the Port of Liverpool Building and Albert Dock and forms part of the mixed-use Mann Island regeneration scheme.

Nick Manley, partner at WP Thompson, said: "One Mann Island offers contemporary accommodation in a world-class waterfront location and we are confident that it will be a superb working environment for our valued team and visiting client base. We look forward to working in our new offices from the end of June."

WP Thompson is currently based in Coopers Building in Church Street.

Merseytravel took a lease at more than £2m a year for the entire building in January 2009 but only occupied around 110,000 sq ft. The rent for the remaining space across three floors was initially covered with help from a £3m grant from the North West Development Agency.

Further tenants the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and John West Foods later signed at the building, developed by Neptune and Countryside and now owned by German pension fund Commerz Real Investmentgessellschaft.

CBRE acted on behalf of Merseytravell; Adept Consultancy acted for WP Thompson. The quoting rent is £20.50/sq ft.